Dam Onmuang is a land rights defender and member of the Southern Peasants' Federation of Thailand (SPFT). The defender has been a strong advocate for community land and natural resources management for marginalised people in Thailand. He has played a vital role in his capacity as the community coordinator in the Santi Pattana community, by taking the lead in negotiating in land disputes with palm oil companies and the authorities, so as to protect and safeguard the community’s guardianship of the land and natural resources. SPFT is also involved in a land dispute before the Surat Thani Provincial Court against forcible eviction from their land by local private company called the United Palm Oil Industry PLC. On 20 October 2020, the human rights defender was on guard duty at the community's security checkpoint when an individual believed to be affiliated with a multinational palm oil company approached and pointed a gun at him and then fled the scene. This attempt on Dam Onmuang’s life is the latest in a series of attempted killings and death threats against land rights defenders associated with SPFT. Defenders and local groups believe that these attacks are perpetrated by individuals associated with the palm oil companies and other associated business interests.